One dies in plane crash south of Polson
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UPDATED Dec. 18 11:50 a.m.
LAKE COUNTY – Investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive in Lake County this afternoon to determine what caused a deadly plane crash at approximately 4:30 p.m. northwest of Ronan.
Pilot Brett Thoft, 33, was killed in the crash. Thoft ran an aviation business in Wasilla, Alaska, but was originally from Lake County. Passenger Tim Schauss of Pablo was critically injured in the incident. He was listed in critical condition at Kalispell Regional Medical Center as of Wednesday morning.
Thoft’s body was transported to the State Crime Lab in Missoula per Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Karen Sargeant said the plane did not have a flight plan and that the pair were up in the air sight seeing at the time of the crash. The flight originated in the Ronan Airport.
Rough terrain complicated emergency response. Responding to the scene of the crash were Ronan Fire Department, Ronan Ambulance, Polson Ambulance, Montana Highway Patrol, Polson Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Coroner and the Lake County Search and Rescue Unit.
POLSON – One person has died and another is injured after a small airplane crashed in the hills west of Back Road and north of Carbine Road at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16. First responders had difficulty accessing the crash site due to steep terrain. Life flight was called to the scene. The identity of the victims is unknown at this tme. The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
